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The Citizen, 1998-11-25, Page 4Shy glances Photo by Janice Becker Looking Back Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and North Huron Citizen November 28, 1973 Joe Phelan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Phelan of RR2, Blyth, was awarded the R. McKinley Citizen- ship award for outstanding partici- pation in 4-H, home and community activities. The 1973 Huron Pioneer Thresh- er Reunion was a financial success. At the annual meeting Secretary- Treasurer Simon Hallahan disclosed that receipts totalled $8,742.50, while expenses were $7,081.37, leaving a profit of more than $1,300. Adrian Vos of Blyth won support from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture for his call for more government assistance in research- ing a possible solution to the energy crisis. His resolution called for the provincial and federal governments to put more research funds behind a drive to recover methane gas from the farmyard manure pile. November 25, 1981 Brussels' new business organiza- tion picked up speed when the largest number of people in the three weeks since its inception attended a meeting at the Brussels Inn. Liz Cowan was elected secre- tary. Gerry Wheeler, president of the Brussels Optimist Club, presented a $600 cheque to Wayne Lowe of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Recre- ation Committee to be divided between minor hockey and figure skating. Christine Hough of the Kitchener Figure Skating Club and Kevin Wheeler of the Brussels Figure Skating Club won gold medals in Novice Free Skate Pairs at the Western Ontario Sectional Compe- tition in Windsor. The Belgrave Bible Society col- lected $640 in a canvass. Society president was Mrs. Robert Procter. Jan Van Vliet of RR2, Brussels, had champion pigs at the Royal Winter Fair. Lesterosa Mark Five was the Grand Champion Boar and Meadowbrook Sally was the Grand Champion Gilt. He won the William Pinkey Memorial Trophy and the Premier Exhibitor Award. THE EDITOR, Last week I submitted an article for the column "From the Minister's Study." It was basically my sermon text from the previous Sunday, which a congregation member had suggested I submit to the newspaper. When I read the published copy I was extremely disappointed in the editing which was done to my' piece. In fact, in one section the November 26, 1997 World-renowned wooden-bird carvers Larry Lucio, his daughter Laura and brother, Jason, purchased property in Blyth for a studio. Teachers and concerned residents gathered to mourn the death of democracy and public education in Ontario in protest of Bill 160. Edna McLellan won the seat on Morris council following a recount. Kelly McNee of Dungannon was named winner of the Murray Cardiff Citizenship award at the annual 4-H Awards Day in Clinton. The Hillcrest Restaurant in Lon- desboro was under new ownership. Denis Bernard and Sandi Walker of London took over the business. deletion of almost two full paragraphs makes that section incomprehensible. I sincerely apologize to anyone who couldnot follow the message I was trying to convey. If anyone found the piece difficult to follow, and is interested in reading my full text, I am happy to offer to anyone a copy of the complete unedited. Continued on page 6 Letter to the editor Rev. seeks clarification C P.O. Box 429, P.O. Box 152, Publisher, Keith Roulston i tizen Cn 4.6A BLYTH, Ont. BRUSSELS, Ont. Editor, Bonnie Gropp NOM 1H0 NOG 1H0 Phone 523-4792 Phone 887-9114 Advertising Manager, FAX 523-9140 FAX 887-9021 Jeannette McNeil E-mail norhuron@scsinternet.com The Citizen is published 50 times a year in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company-Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $27.00/year ($25.24 + $1.76 G.S.T.) in Canada; $62.00/year In U.S.A. and $75.00/year in other foreign countries. Advertising is accepted on the condition that In the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth. We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Tide North Huron 811111=1111 PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1998. What's the rush? After months and years of dragging their feet on amalgamation, Huron County municipalities now seem to be in a crazy dash to get it over with, whether it makes sense or not. Representatives of Clinton and Hullett and Goderich Twps. recently told the Village of Blyth it had until Dec. 2 to decide if it would join that group or choose to go with a northern group. Since the new municipal structure is likely to be in place for many years, it seems foolish to rush a decision, especially when there seems no immediate danger in taking the time that's needed to choose wisely. Chief motivator for the rush to amalgamate is the fear that the provincial government may appoint a commission that will arbitrarily reorganize the county, perhaps imposing a single-tier government as happened in Kent County. But with an election campaign expected in the spring, the province is less likely to take action now than at any time since the Harris government was elected in 1995. This is not a time when the government will want to anger voters. In fact the one thing that's likely to bring a commission into Huron County would be municipalities that can't get along. Actions like the decision of Morris and Turnberry Twps. to go ahead on their own, upsetting nearby Wingham, are just the kind of thing to breed an atmosphere that will lead to calling in the province to adjudicate. Then there's the fact that nobody seems to be asking the people what they want. Very few municipalities have even held a public meeting on the subject, let alone carried out a systematic survey of local residents. In The Citizen's limited survey of opinion, for instance, 79 per cent of respondents felt there should be a referendum on amalgamation. Respondents from the southern end of Morris and East Wawanosh did not want to be part of a union with Wingham. Sixty-nine per cent of those who responded who lived in a township said they thought townships could be divided if it helped new municipalities conform to natural community lines. Several people commented that since the old lines on the map were going to be erased anyway, it made little sense to confine new municipal structures to the old township boundaries. Creating artificial deadlines serves no good end. There is still much to think about. There are other ideas out there than just those in the heads of the municipal leaders and their staffs. The local politicians, ironically, are guilty of the same kind of thinking as they criticize the provincial government for — thinking that they have the only solutions. Amalgamations can work if they make sense, and if they give people a sense of ownership of the new municipality. For that to happen, people must be given the chance to have their say. Now, of all times in the past four years, seems to be a foolish time to be rushing.— KR Teenagers show professionalism It's fashionable for adults to grumble that young people just don't know how to get along in the real world, but a group of Huron County young people is currently showing they can match adults when it comes to initiative, creativity and determination. Teenagers from throughout the county have joined together to create a new theatre company called "... And Perhaps a Play" which is currently presenting its inaugural production The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at the Blyth Festival's Garage Theatre. Late this summer several members of the Festival's Young Company, decided they'd like to continue to put on plays year round, not just in the summer. They decided to organize their own theatre company by and for teenagers. It's a huge undertaking and adults can be excused for a little skepticism but the group organized their own board of directors, appointed an artistic director and general manager, recruited teenaged fundraisers, technicians and stage managers, chose the play, cast the parts and rehearsed it to a high standard of performance. The result is a superb, very funny, first production, closer to the professional standards of the Festival than to normal high school productions. But more than merely presenting wonderful entertainment, the play shows how young people can accept responsibility and work together to carry it out. It's reassuring, seeing what this group has accomplished, to think that the next generation is in capable hands.— KR E ditorial